CONTROL UNIT FOR A CLOCK PART

Abstract

The invention relates to a control element intended to be fitted to a watch case comprising a clockwork mechanism, said control element being intended to be connected to the clockwork mechanism, said control element comprising: - a head (16) for connecting the control element to the clockwork mechanism, and a cap (20) intended to be visible and manipulated by the user, - means for attaching the cap (20) to the head (16), said attachment means comprising a split ring (32) received simultaneously in a groove (30) of the head (16) and in a groove (34) of the cap (20) and an elastic ring (42) exerting a force between the head (16) and the cap (20) tending to separate the head (16) and the cap (20). [Fig.2]

Description

Title of the invention: CONTROL UNIT FOR A CLOCKWORK PART TECHNICAL FIELD AND PREVIOUS ART

[0001] The present invention relates to a control element for a timepiece, such as a winding crown, a pusher or a corrector, and to a timepiece comprising such an element.

[0002] A watch crown is generally located on the side of the watch case and mechanically interacts with the mechanical watch movement housed within the case, for example, to wind the mainspring and / or to set the time. The crown is connected to the mechanical watch movement in a known manner. The crown is intended to be mounted on a tube fixed to the watch case and is intended to be grasped by the watch user to operate the mechanical movement.

[0003] Generally, the crown has a visible outer part and an inner part made of steel which serves to perform the function, for example setting, and also to be attached to the winding stem. When both the inner and outer parts are made of metal, the outer part is most often pressed onto the inner part.

[0004] For certain watch models, it is desired to produce crowns made of ceramic. However, it is not feasible to make the entire crown out of ceramic. Therefore, the outer part of the crown is made of ceramic and the inner part of metal. However, a ceramic element cannot be pressed onto a metal element. One solution implemented to join the outer and inner parts is bonding.

[0005] There is a growing desire to eliminate glue from assemblies. Description of the invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a control element for a watch part that allows it to be assembled without gluing.

[0007] The above-mentioned purpose is achieved by a control member comprising an inner part or head intended to be connected to a clockwork mechanism and an outer part or cap, the outer part being assembled to the inner part by an axial locking element and by an elastic element ensuring a restoring force which, in cooperation with the axial locking element, locks the outer part in position on the inner part.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, glue is eliminated during assembly. The invention allows for simple and quick assembly of the head and the headpiece regardless of the materials used.

[0009] In one embodiment, the axial locking element is a split rod and the elastic element is a ring made of elastic material.

[0010] In a preferred example, the control member includes a ring to ensure the tensile strength of the assembly of the inner part on the outer part, an elastic ring, of the O-ring type, eliminating axial play between the head and the cap, and at least one flat between the inner part and the outer part to ensure anti-rotation between the two parts.

[0011] In other words, the invention includes means for fixing the cap to the head, said fixing means comprising at least one longitudinal locking element along the longitudinal axis cooperating at least with a transverse surface of the head or the cap and elastic means exerting a force between the head and the cap tending to separate the head and the cap from each other.

[0012] One of the objects of the present invention is then a control member intended to be placed on a watch case comprising a clockwork mechanism, said control member being intended to be connected to the clockwork mechanism, said longitudinal axis control member having a head intended for fixing the control member to the clockwork mechanism, and a cap intended to be visible and to be manipulated by the user, means for fixing the cap to the head, said fixing means having a longitudinal locking element along the longitudinal axis received simultaneously in a groove of the head and in a groove of the cap and elastic means exerting a force between the head and the cap tending to separate the head and the cap from each other.

[0013] Preferably, the longitudinal blocking element is a split rod.

[0014] The headdress has for example a cup shape comprising a base and the elastic means are arranged between the base of the headdress and the head.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic means comprise a ring made of elastically deformable material.

[0016] The control element advantageously includes means configured to block rotation between the head and the cap around the longitudinal axis.

[0017] The head preferably has at least one flat on its outer lateral face and the cap has at least one flat on its inner lateral face cooperating with the flat of the head.

[0018] For example, the head has on its outer lateral face a shoulder extending radially, and the cap has on its inner lateral face a radial bearing surface, the shoulder being opposite the span and being arranged between the grooves and the elastic means.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is a timepiece comprising a watch case, a timekeeping mechanism and a control member according to the invention, said control member being connected to the timekeeping mechanism.

[0020] The clock mechanism may be equipped with a winding stem and the control member may be a crown, the head being fixed to the winding stem.

[0021] The timepiece includes, for example, a tube fixed to the watch case and surrounding the winding stem, in which the tube has at least one groove on its outer side face and a seal received in said groove, said seal ensuring the seal between the tube and the head.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is a method for assembling a control element according to the invention, comprising:

[0023] - the placement of the locking element in the groove of the head and its retention in a radially retracted state,

[0024] - the placement of elastic means in the cap,

[0025] - insertion of the head into the cap,

[0026] - the compression of the elastic means,

[0027] - the alignment of the throat of the head and the throat of the headdress and the deployment radial of the locking element. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] This application will be better understood with the aid of the following description and the attached drawings, in which: - [Fig. 1] is a front view of an example embodiment of a control device according to the invention, - [Fig.2] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mechanism of [Fig.1], - [Fig.3] is an exploded view of [Fig.1], - [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the control element of [Fig.1], - [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a timepiece comprising an example of a control organ according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0029] In the description that follows, a proximal element means an element located or oriented towards the watch case and a distal element means an element located away from or oriented away from the watch case.

[0030] In the following description, the control element that will be described in detail is a crown, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to crowns but the control element according to the invention may be, in a non-limiting way, a push button or a corrector.

[0031] Figures 1 to 4 show an example of the embodiment of a crown 15 for a timepiece, for example, a wristwatch 2. Figure 5 shows an example of a timepiece comprising such a crown 15. The timepiece comprises a watch case 4, a dial, hands (not shown), a crystal 8, and a watch movement (not visible) located inside the watch case. For example, the crown is received in a recess formed in a side face of the watch case.

[0032] The crown 15 has the function of allowing action on the clock mechanism by manipulating the crown, for example to allow setting the time or winding the mainspring of the clock mechanism, in the case of a mechanical watch.

[0033] In one embodiment, the crown can be moved along its longitudinal axis.

[0034] The crown 15 extends along the longitudinal axis Y which is orthogonal to the axis of the timepiece.

[0035] The crown is intended to cooperate with a tube 10 fixed to the watch case and through which passes the winding stem of the watch mechanism.

[0036] The tube 10 advantageously has, at its distal end, grooves 12 on its outer lateral face receiving seals 14 cooperating with the crown head to ensure the sealing of the inside of the watch.

[0037] The crown 15 has a head 16 intended to be fixed to the winding stem (not shown) of the clockwork mechanism, and a cap 20 fixed to the head 16.

[0038] The head 16 comprises a body 21 of cylindrical shape of revolution. The body 21 has a cup shape open towards the tube 10 and comprises a barrel 22 with longitudinal axis Y fixed in the bottom of the body 21 and comprising an open proximal end 23.

[0039] The barrel 22 is received in the distal end of the tube 10.

[0040] The barrel 22 includes, for example, a tapped hole intended to cooperate with the thread of the winding stem.

[0041] The cap 20 has an internal shape corresponding substantially to the external shape of the head 16 and having, in this example, teeth 24 on its external face.

[0042] Preferably, the head 16 and the cap 20 comprise means cooperating with each other to facilitate longitudinal guidance along the Y-axis during the placement of the cap 20 onto the head 16 during assembly. In the example shown, and advantageously, the head 16 comprises two flats 26 on its outer lateral face and the headdress 20 has two plates 28 on its inner lateral face. In the example shown, the plates 26, 28 are diametrically opposed ([Fig.4]).

[0043] In addition, the cooperation of the plates ensures an anti-rotation between the head and the cap.

[0044] The head 16 has on its outer lateral face a groove 30 opening radially outwards receiving a split ring 32.

[0045] The cap 20 has a groove 34 in its inner lateral face intended to face the groove 30. The dimensions of the ring and the outer diameter of the groove 34 are chosen so that once deployed, the ring extends partly into the groove 30 and partly into the groove 34.

[0046] In the example shown, the inner lateral face of the cap 20 has a radial bearing surface 36 intended to bear against a shoulder 38 of the outer lateral face of the head 16. In the example shown, the radial bearing surface 36 forms one of the longitudinal end faces of the groove 34.

[0047] The radial bearing surface 36 and the shoulder 38 provide a stopping function during assembly, forming a stop when inserting the head into the cap.

[0048] The crown 15 also includes elastic means 40 interposed between the cap 20 and the head 16, so as to exert a force tending to move the head 16 away from the cap 20 in the longitudinal direction Y. In the example shown, the elastic means 40 include a ring 42 made of elastic material, for example elastomer, of the O-ring type, interposed between the bottom of the cap 20 and the distal end of the head 16. Preferably, the ring 42 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cap 20. Advantageously, the edge 44 of the distal end of the head is beveled to serve as a support for the ring 42.

[0049] On [Fig.2], ring 42 can be seen in compression between cap 20 and head 16.

[0050] The assembly and immobilization of the cap on the head is carried out in the following manner.

[0051] The split ring 32 is mounted in the groove 30 and is held retracted inside it. The ring 42 is placed in the bottom of the cap 20.

[0052] Next, the plates 26 of the head 16 are aligned with the plates 28 of the cap 20 and the head 16 is inserted into the cap 20 in the Y direction. The ring 32 is held in the groove 30.

[0053] The head 16 is inserted into the cuff until the shoulder 38 comes to rest against the radial bearing surface of the cuff 20.

[0054] From a certain penetration stroke of the head 16 into the rotator cuff 20, the ring 42 is compressed between the bottom of the rotator cuff 20 and the distal end of the head 16. This compression occurs as the groove 30 penetrates the rotator cuff 20, and when it is located opposite groove 34. In this position, the ring 32 extends radially. The ring 32 then extends both radially in grooves 30 and 34.

[0055] The cooperation of the ring 32 with the distal edge 51 of the groove 30 ensures axial locking of the rotator cuff 20 on the head 16, preventing retraction of the crown from the head. The elastic ring 42 exerts a force tending to separate the rotator cuff from the head.

[0056] The combined action of the ring 32 cooperating with the grooves 30 and 34, in particular with the edge 51, and of the elastic force exerted by the compressed ring 42 prevents any relative movement of the cap 20 and the head 16 along the Y axis in both directions, and absorbs axial play.

[0057] Another element besides a split reed can be used. For example, blades Flexible hoses with a nozzle at their free end can be machined directly into the head or cap and cooperate with a transverse surface of the cap or head respectively, which ensures a locking of the cap on the head along the Y direction. The flats ensure rotational locking around the Y axis between the head and the cap.

[0058] In the example shown, rotation between the cap 20 and the head 16 is prevented by the interaction of the flats on the head and in the cap. Furthermore, the friction between the ring 42 and the parts also helps to absorb rotational play. Alternatively, the anti-rotation function is ensured, for example, by the use of a pin or a circlip.

[0059] Alternatively, the elastic means comprise a disc made of elastic material, a helical spring or a leaf spring or any other means capable of exerting an elastic force tending to separate the cap from the inner part.

[0060] It will be understood that the invention applies to any crown comprising a head and a cap, regardless of the internal structure of the head. For example, the seals may be located on the inner surface of the crown. The shape of the barrel, the attachment of the head to the winding stem, and the interaction between the tube and the head may vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0061] Thanks to the invention, glue can be omitted in the assembly of the cap and the head.

[0062] The invention allows a cap made of any material to be assembled with a head made of any material. For example, the cap can be made of ceramic, precious metal such as gold or platinum, and the head can be made of stainless steel or precious metal, for example.

[0063] The invention makes it possible to combine two parts requiring, for example, different treatments.

[0064] The invention also makes it possible to produce crowns with a very specific aesthetic without having to take into account the mechanical part that assembles the crown with the winding stem. The addition of a groove inside the crown cap has no effect on its external appearance.

Claims

Demands

1. A control element intended to be mounted on a watch case comprising a watch mechanism, said control element being intended to be connected to the watch mechanism, said control element having a longitudinal axis (Y) comprising: - a head (16) for attaching the control element to the watch mechanism, and a cap (20) intended to be visible and manipulated by the user, - means for attaching the cap (20) to the head (16), said attachment means comprising a longitudinal locking element (32) along the longitudinal axis (Y) received simultaneously in a groove (30) of the head (16) and in a groove (34) of the cap (20), and elastic means (40) exerting a force between the head (16) and the cap (20) tending to separate the head (16) and the cap (20) from each other, wherein the head (16) comprises on its outer lateral face a shoulder (38) extending radially,and the cap (20) has on its inner lateral face a radial bearing surface (36), the shoulder (38) being opposite the bearing surface (36) and being arranged between the grooves (30, 34) and the elastic means (40).

2. Control member according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal locking element (32) is a split rod.

3. Control member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap (20) has a cup shape comprising a bottom and wherein the elastic means (40) are arranged between the bottom of the cap (20) and the head (16).

4. Control member according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elastic means (40) comprise a ring (42) made of elastically deformable material.

5. Control member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising means configured to block rotation between the head and the cap around the longitudinal axis (Y).

6. Control member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the head (16) has at least one flat (26) on its outer lateral face and the cap (20) has at least one flat (28) on its inner lateral face cooperating with the flat (26) of the head (16).

7. A timepiece comprising a watch case, a timekeeping mechanism and a control member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said control member being connected to the timekeeping mechanism.

8. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein the timekeeping mechanism is provided with a winding stem and the control member is a crown and wherein the head is fixed to the winding stem.

9. A timepiece according to claim 8, comprising a tube (10) fixed to the watch case and surrounding the winding stem and in which the tube has at least one groove (12) on its outer side face and a seal (14) received in said groove, said seal (14) ensuring the seal between the tube and the head.

10. Method of assembling a control element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: - placing the locking element (32) in the groove of the head (16) and holding it in a radially retracted position, - placing the elastic means (40) in the cap (20), - inserting the head (16) into the cap (20), - compressing the elastic means (40), - aligning the groove (30) of the head (16) and the groove (34) of the cap (20) and radially deploying the locking element (32).

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